96 Grand Am Transmission problems?

Hi gang, got a quick question here, although it's probably open and shut :\

I got a 96 Grand Am, Automatic, 4 cylinder, about 138k miles on it. It has a problem where it can't shift out of 1st gear. It started out having problems with a hard shift out of park, especially on cooler days. But last night, it just decided it wasn't going to shift out of 1st gear. A couple rare times it would shift into 2nd, but not many. You just have to sit and play with the throttle a little hoping it would click into gear.

Considering my car was just broken into this past week (sighs), I'm hoping it's not the transmission going bad, and that's its just a sensor or something malfunctioning. Would the OBD II sensor tools give me an idea or do I just need to take it to a shop? I remember having similar problems a few years ago, and it just turned out to be a sensor, hoping for similar results :)

Hi gang, got a quick question here, although it's probably open and shut :\

I got a 96 Grand Am, Automatic, 4 cylinder, about 138k miles on it. It has a problem where it can't shift out of 1st gear. It started out having problems with a hard shift out of park, especially on cooler days. But last night, it just decided it wasn't going to shift out of 1st gear. A couple rare times it would shift into 2nd, but not many. You just have to sit and play with the throttle a little hoping it would click into gear.

Considering my car was just broken into this past week (sighs), I'm hoping it's not the transmission going bad, and that's its just a sensor or something malfunctioning. Would the OBD II sensor tools give me an idea or do I just need to take it to a shop? I remember having similar problems a few years ago, and it just turned out to be a sensor, hoping for similar results :)

If you are getting a Check Engine light then i would recommend having it scanned. to see whats going on. I would also check to see what the fluid level is at. If your fluid is low your not going to far or fast. Lastly is the dread replacement of the tranny... which is possilble with the amount of miles you have on it. good luck

Thanks for the reply :)

I actually went and had it scanned at a local Autozone last night, because the check engine light was on. However, most of the codes that came back where mostly emissions related (Oxygen Sensor), however I do believe the guy said there was a misfire code and bad heater core. I don't think these things would cause the car not to shift out of first gear though.

I should have mentioned also in my first post, that I can shift into reverse and neutral just fine, the car has no problem with that. Also, sometimes when I start the car from a cold start, I have to let it sit and warm up for a few, if I try to take off too quickly, it'll sputter a bit and take off, on rare occasion did it stall or backfire.

But back to my original point, even though the code didn't show, could it still be a simple sensor going bad or the more dreadful tranny replacement? I'm staying away from doing a flush or even changing the fluid at this point, I've heard too many horror stories that do more harm than good, especially on an older engine like mine. My dad mentioned something about the tranny may be slipping, although I'm not sure exactly what that means.. can you or anyone explain that?

Thanks for the reply :)

I actually went and had it scanned at a local Autozone last night, because the check engine light was on. However, most of the codes that came back where mostly emissions related (Oxygen Sensor), however I do believe the guy said there was a misfire code and bad heater core. I don't think these things would cause the car not to shift out of first gear though.

I should have mentioned also in my first post, that I can shift into reverse and neutral just fine, the car has no problem with that. Also, sometimes when I start the car from a cold start, I have to let it sit and warm up for a few, if I try to take off too quickly, it'll sputter a bit and take off, on rare occasion did it stall or backfire.

But back to my original point, even though the code didn't show, could it still be a simple sensor going bad or the more dreadful tranny replacement? I'm staying away from doing a flush or even changing the fluid at this point, I've heard too many horror stories that do more harm than good, especially on an older engine like mine. My dad mentioned something about the tranny may be slipping, although I'm not sure exactly what that means.. can you or anyone explain that?

Well I'm glad to hear that you got it scanned and got some codes back. Let's start off with the problems.

Your heater core will not effect the trans. This will effect the your heating system and coolant system so becareful. You'll smell a strong coolant smell inside teh car... and some people have there windows fog up inside as well.

On to the tranny issues. It is possible that your oxygen sensor could be the problem. Especially if it's the rear sensor right before the catalytic converter. However... if you are getting a oxygen sensor code and your tranny isn't working well, there is a possibility that you catalytic converter is clogged causing the erratic shifting and the sputter/stalling feeling. I would look into your catalytic converter and see if that has gone bad. For tranny fluid... I would say just do a change NEVER GET A FLUSH. that's where the horror stories come in!

would think if you can shift fine into rev and neutral that the cat might not be the prob. does the motor sound ok while it isnt shifting? and does it clunk into gear when it finally shifts? hate to say it sounds more like an accumulator prob

its probly the shifter cable or the plate that it attaches to on the trans is loose or damaged....
that is on the shifting troubles but if its a slippin then first chekc the level.
Then you could try the fluid & filter change.

Good Luck

I have a 95 grand am with same problem it wont come out of first gear but rev and neutral changes like it should. Just one day it got a wild hair and wouldnt shift. I need help too with problem i have no engine codes though.